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Taronga Zoo Is Having A Wild Street Parade To Celebrate 100 Years

A milestone that calls for pictures of baby animals, obviously.
'Party. What party? Nothing to see here.'
Getty Images
'Party. What party? Nothing to see here.'

Sydneysiders, cancel your plans next weekend because Taronga Zoo is celebrating its centenary year with a wild birthday bash in the city.

While roaming rhinos and cheeky monkeys won't be making a real-life appearance, giant animal light sculptures will attend instead, making their way down Macquarie Street as part of an epic birthday parade.

The huge light sculptures will recreate a historic moment that took place shortly after Taronga opened its Mosman gates in 1916, when Jessie the elephant made her way from the original Zoological site in Moore Park, through the CBD, down Macquarie Street to a spot on the foreshore directly where the Harbour Bridge and Opera House would rise years later.

Jessie boarded a barge, to be transported across the harbour as did hippos, primates, reptiles, and many other animal species Taronga still cares for today.

Getty

As well as the birthday festivities, the sculptures will represent Taronga's 10-year commitment to the conservation and preservation of 10 critical species including the Sumatran tiger, platypus and Asian elephant.

Aussies are encouraged to "Stand Up For #ForTheWild" by coming along to cheer on the parade on Saturday October 15, donating and getting active on social media.

"We're asking Australians not just in Sydney but across the country help us raise $1 million dollars to kick-start a lifetime conservation commitment," Cameron Kerr, CEO at Taronga Zoo said in a statement.

It's the kind of cause anybody would want to get behind.

JUST LOOK AT THEIR SMOOSHY FACES.

Elke, a five-day-old Francois Langur, makes her media debut at Taronga Zoo's Wildlife Hospital in Sydney, 2009.
Daniel Munoz / Reuters
Elke, a five-day-old Francois Langur, makes her media debut at Taronga Zoo's Wildlife Hospital in Sydney, 2009.
Baby male Asian Elephant 'Pathi Harn' plays in the mud with 'Luk Chai' at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, 2010.
Ho New / Reuters
Baby male Asian Elephant 'Pathi Harn' plays in the mud with 'Luk Chai' at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, 2010.
A Western Lowland Gorilla named Mbeli holds her three-day-old baby in their enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo 2014.
David Gray / Reuters
A Western Lowland Gorilla named Mbeli holds her three-day-old baby in their enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo 2014.
Bo, a 55-day-old baby Echidna known as a puggle, rests in the hands of vet nurse at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, 2012.
Tim Wimborne / Reuters
Bo, a 55-day-old baby Echidna known as a puggle, rests in the hands of vet nurse at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, 2012.
Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney.
Getty Images
Sumatran tiger Jumilah is seen with her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo on October 25, 2011 in Sydney.
Meerkat pups 'Nairobi' and 'Zanzibar' four weeks old and the first to be born at Sydney's Taronga Zoo in nine years, are shown for the first time in 2009.
AFP/Getty Images
Meerkat pups 'Nairobi' and 'Zanzibar' four weeks old and the first to be born at Sydney's Taronga Zoo in nine years, are shown for the first time in 2009.
Two eight-week-old African lion cubs play together after being put on public display for the first time at Sydney's Taronga Zoo October 29, 2003.
David Gray / Reuters
Two eight-week-old African lion cubs play together after being put on public display for the first time at Sydney's Taronga Zoo October 29, 2003.
Koori, a tiny baby koala bear hangs on to a stuffed wombat toy at Taronga Park Zoo in 2004.
Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Koori, a tiny baby koala bear hangs on to a stuffed wombat toy at Taronga Park Zoo in 2004.

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